22 Mother's Day Cakes That Will Show Mom Just How Much You Care

When it comes to Mother’s Day we’re all about grand gestures, like a special dinner or a handmade dessert. That’s why we love the idea of baking Mom a cake for her big day. Sure, it will take a little bit of planning to bake and decorate — but it's one dessert that’s guaranteed to show Mom just how much you care. Luckily, we’ve got lots of great ideas to help you find something that’s just right, starting with this copycat Chantilly cake. It's inspired by the Berry Chantilly Cake from Whole Foods Market that has a cult following—fans have been known to wait in line to buy it! Our recipe is deliciously easy, so bakers of all skill levels can whip one layers of ultra-tender white cake and light-as-can-be frosting for a special Mother's Day treat.

If you're looking for something that will wow Mom (that's also easy to pull off) this is the recipe for you. A simple, citrusy sheet cake is topped with fresh fruit and herbs for a floral finish that is guaranteed to add a ray of sunshine to her day.

This strawberry country cake highlights peak-season berries with layers of tender cake, lightly sweetened whipped cream and juicy, sun-ripened strawberries.

Ina Garten’s mocha chocolate icebox cake is an easy, make-ahead dessert that layers crisp chocolate chip cookies with fluffy mocha whipped cream for a rich, creamy slice. Elegant enough for a celebration but simple enough for any spring gathering, it’s a no-fuss cake that feels extra special.

Treat Mom like royalty with this classic Swedish cake. It's elegant and delicious with a pillowy, creamy interior. Recipes for the cake vary, but most bakers agree on layers of tender sponge cake, raspberry jam, pastry cream and a generous dome of whipped cream. Everything is covered in sweet marzipan, usually tinted green, with a pink rose on top for a charming finish.

Every Mom is sure to adore Molly’s foolproof carrot cake. She makes it special by using hawaij, a cardamom-forward Yemeni spice blend in both the cake and the frosting. If you can’t find it at your grocery store this recipe will walk you through the steps to make your own at home, using spices from the pantry.

Ina’s chocolatey cake is both elegant and rich. To spend more time with Mom on the holiday, bake the cake in advance, then wrap and refrigerate it until Mother’s Day. Once the cake is frosted, it can be left at room temperature for up to eight hours.

Anne’s recipe calls for a specialty ingredient (rose geranium leaves) because they’re perfect for infusing flavor into sugar and baked goods. If you can’t find them at your farmer’s market or specialty store you can add a few drops of rosewater to your cake batter instead. Or, omit the floral flavor altogether — the cake will still be delicious.

Just like a mug cake (but prettier) this tea-infused treat comes together easily with the help of a microwave-safe teacup. After the cake cools, a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon will make it look just like a tea latte from Mom’s favorite cafe!

Believe it or not, you can make this show-stopping cake for Mom in just 2 hours, thanks to boxed cake mix, store-bought frosting and real flowers. Just be sure the ones you purchase are clearly labeled ‘edible’ so that they’re safe to include on top of your cake.

Put this beautiful, no-bake cheesecake out and Mom might just think you're a professional baker! We used sliced strawberries and mandarin oranges to create the flower on top, but you can use other fruit to create your own design. Just make sure to avoid pineapple, kiwi, papaya, mango and guava, which all contain an enzyme that will prevent the gelatin from setting properly.

An eye-catching treat that's easy to prepare, this raspberry-swirl pound cake yields 8-10 slices — enough to feed everyone and have a few slices left over for the next day.

Treat Mom to one of the most popular desserts in the restaurant at Ree’s Mercantile. This “make at home” version of her strawberry cake uses several time-saving shortcuts: strawberry box cake, jarred strawberry sauce and strawberry cream sandwich cookies.

This is not your average mall-bought giant cookie cake. Molly uses a mix of almond and hazelnut flours as the base — a touch of almond extract really makes the nutty flavors shine. Top it all of with gorgeous buttercream frosting for a dessert that Mom will love.

Red wine does double duty in Giada’s decadent dessert. The wine gets mixed into the cake batter for flavor and whisked with powdered sugar to make a pretty-in-pink glaze.

Mom loves chocolate? This Oreo cake boasts cocoa and dark chocolate in the batter plus a cream cheese frosting that's speckled with crushed Oreos. It's rich and ultra fluffy—perfect for any celebration.

This ultra-moist cake is spiked with double orange flavor — the batter is made with orange marmalade and the warm cake is drizzled with orange syrup.

This melt-in-your-mouth cake is soaked with the flavors of wildflower honey, citrus and cardamom before getting a finishing touch of glossy honey glaze — just like a real honeycomb!

Make a bright, cheerful dessert with Molly’s easy recipe. All you need are a few baking staples and some colorful sprinkles. Best of all, this recipe can be used to make a 3-layer cake or cupcakes — whichever mom likes more!

Trisha’s tender Bundt cake is perfect when you need a make-ahead dessert. She says, “This is absolutely something you can make a day ahead and it will be great the next day.”

If Mom loves banana bread, she’ll adore Kardea’s take on Hummingbird Cake. Mashed banana is combined with crushed pineapple, coconut flakes, toasted pecans and warm baking spices for a tender, sweet cake reminiscent of her favorite quick bread. Finish with a rich buttermilk frosting and dried fruit for a presentation worthy of Mom's special day.